Its strong taste and heat are well-loved by those who like spicy flavors.
But Wasabi is a finicky plant, and serious growers often turn to greenhouse culture to grow it.
Wasabi is usually planted from potted nursery starts in the early spring.
The Spruce / Ana Cadena
The rhizomatous stalk will not be ready for harvest until the second year.
Can You Grow Real Wasabi at Home?
One reason for this is because there is some confusion concerning growing wasabi from seed.
The Spruce / Ana Cadena
Because wasabi has particular growing conditions, it tends to be very expensive to grow.
Acquiring wasabi plants outside of Japan can be difficult.
This has led to a wide demand for seeds for growing wasabi.
The Spruce / Ana Cadena
If you want to grow plants from seeds, find a reliable source for seeds.
How to Plant Wasabi
Growing wasabi plants is frankly difficult because their growing needs are so specific.
If planting in the garden, choose a shady location with well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral soil.
The Spruce / Ana Cadena
you might create a shade barrier with fabric (shade cloth) or a folding screen.
Container plants can be moved around to keep them in the shade.
If growing in containers, use a one or two-gallon pot with a 10-inch planting depth.
The rhizomes are the part of the wasabi plant used to make the pungent seasoning paste.Valleybrook Gardens/ Flickr /CC BY 2.0
Plant your nursery starts so that they stand upright, leaving part of the rhizome exposed.
Water
Water your wasabi well at planting and then regularly after this.
Misting the plants will also help keep them cool.
Take care not to overwater as these plants don’t tolerate waterlogged conditions.
Temperatures below freezing or above 80F can kill the plant, so these extremes should be avoided.
Planting in containers means you might move the plants if the thermometer suddenly gets too high or too low.
If the leaves get droopy or wilted, move the plants to shade and mist them a bit.
The plants will be mature enough for pulling within fifteen months to two years.
It’s good to harvest these leaves to keep the plants neat and healthy.
After your first harvest, let the plant grow more leaves and harvest them every 6 to 8 weeks.
The stems can also be frozen, but are best eaten fresh.
They’re crunchy and make a good addition to stir-fry dishes or salads.
Pruning Wasabi
Removing any wilted leaves that don’t perk up after misting.
This can help to avoid any spread of disease orpowdery mildew.
In about two months they should develop sufficient roots to be transplanted into the garden or into pots.
Wasabi seeds are difficult to germinate, so they are hard to find, even from commercial suppliers.
Common Pests and Plant Diseases
Several pests may be problems with your wasabi plants.
confirm cool temperatures and shady conditions are maintained as this will help deter pests.
Insecticidal soaps are not recommended for wasabi.
If any fungal disease is present, copper spray orbaking soda spraycan be used.
What Part of a Wasabi Plant Can You Eat?
The entire wasabi plant is edible.
Plant starts are difficult to acquire outside of Japan.
The secret to growing your own wasabi is meeting its very specific growing conditions.
Wasabi normally takes two years to grow to maturity for harvesting.
